Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Again, this area is one that has had debate for quite a number of Assemblies. The Member for Tu
Nedhe is correct: this policy has been in place for many years and had success early.
One of those successes could be the fact that a lot of the aboriginal people — and I count myself as one — entered a lot of the front-line positions back in my apprenticeship days with the Government of the Northwest Territories and then as a tradesman in the field. Many of our communities provided many journeymen in trades areas. So that’s, I think, an example of how things went and worked.
It’s something like that we need to focus on and get the education out into the system, because the best affirmative action policy is a good education.
We need to improve in our program areas so that we have our graduates channelled in the right areas so that they can take their experience and grow in those areas and can help in writing those policies we work from in this Legislative Assembly.
Here’s one of the areas. With an earlier motion we talked about, Mr. Chairman, working together. The Minister responsible for Human Resources is prepared to sit down with committee on a new employment equity piece. Here’s an opportunity to talk about those progressive targets and other actions we can put in place. I would invite that opportunity. Let’s get down to work and roll up our sleeves in those areas. Thank you.